February 26, 1999
Web posted at: 10:35 a.m. EST (1535 GMT)

AUSTIN, Texas (AllPolitics, February 26) -- Texas Gov. George W. Bush will announce in two weeks that he plans to form a presidential exploratory committee for the 2000 election, a longtime Bush adviser told CNN Thursday.

"If you wrote that, you would not be wrong," the adviser said.

Bush, the son of former President George Bush, was first elected Texas' chief executive in 1994 and is a leading choice among potential GOP presidential candidates in early polls.

Gov. George W. Bush will announce in two weeks whether he will run for president in 2000

Although he has yet to declare his intentions, Bush, while coy, hinted he has made up his mind.

"In two weeks, I'll make an announcement," he told reporters earlier this week.

Asked what he had decided, the governor said, "If I told you what I'd announce, you wouldn't even show up."

Mindy Tucker, a spokeswoman for the governor, confirmed that Bush's announcement in two weeks will be on whether he will go forward with an exploratory committee.

The specific date for the announcement has yet to be set, but it will be made in Austin, the state's capital, she said.

Sources told CNN that the names of key staff will be released at that time, including the selection of Don Evans -- a close friend who chaired the governor's 1998 re-election campaign -- as the fund-raiser for the exploratory committee.

A formal announcement of candidacy would not come until later this year.

Support for Bush has gained steam, especially during this week's National Governors Association conference in Washington.

A dozen of the nation's GOP governors urged Bush to run for president. The support from so many governors is significant in that each one has the potential to bring along state party organizations and the staffing needed to run a presidential campaign.

That could be key in a crowded field of potentially formidable Republican candidates, including Elizabeth Dole, who is leading Bush in some polls and also has plenty of name recognition; publisher Steve Forbes; Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona); former Vice President Dan Quayle; and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander.

Sen. Bob Smith, a conservative from New Hampshire, is the only Republican to formally announce his candidacy so far.

Friday, February 26, 1999

• Clinton says U.S. interests at stake in Kosovo
• Sen. Kerry decides not to run for president
• Republicans debate multiple tax relief plans
• Source: Bush will announce presidential exploratory committee
• Y2K threatens federal, state welfare programs
• Clinton lawyer to appear at independent counsel hearing
• Cherry blossoms predicted in late March
• As Clintons ponder move, library plan remains firm
• Feds target violence against women
• Government still working on Y2K bug
• Clinton administration under fire for INS detention policies
• McCain to GOP: Stop sniping
• North Carolina mayor quoted saying blacks can't lead
• Starr witnesses in Steele case being questioned
• Judge rules former Tripp attorney doesn't have to testify
• Washington's traffic is bad, and getting worse
• U.S. human rights report criticizes China

ARCHIVES